2004 Acura TL Grinding/clicking noise when car is cold

RMF

MEMBER
2004 ACURA TL
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
100,000 MILES

Hi,

When I start my 2004 Acura TL, it makes a grinding/clicking noise for about a minute until the car warms up. I took the car to my local Japanese repair facility and they told me that the primary trouble is that the gasoline I'm using is boiling in the fuel rails, which is causing air bubbles, which is creating troubles for me. The strange thing is that this does not happen when the car is warm, only when it is cold. The repair facility told me to switch gas, so I've been using 91 Chevron and have tossed in a few Chevron additives. However, the problem still has not gone away. The car drives great, but makes this noise when it is cold.

Any ideas of how to fix the problem? Does anyone think that it could be a different problem?

Thanks!

4 Replies

ERNEST CLARK

MECHANIC
1,730 POSTS

Your problem is definitely not gas boiling in the fuel rails. That is rediculous!

Now having said that, it's impossible for me to diagnose your problem with so little information. I can however help you narrow it down.

I'm assuming you're saying the sound comes from the motor, at idle or while in drive. If this is the case, then what ever is making this noise is a part that's being turned by the engine. Check your belts for the proper tension, as well as condition.

If they're cracked or loose, fix this first. Next, check the idler pulley or pulleys. When these begin to fail, they make a grinding noise at start up that sometimes goes away as the heat from the engine makes the metal expand. But as time goes on, the sound will persist and get louder.

You can check this by removing the serpentine belt and turning all of your pulleys by hand. It may be a pulley other than the idler pulley. If you encounter a pulley that gives you more resistance than the rest, and has a grinding sound or feeling, replace it.

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Sunday, September 26th, 2010 AT 5:35 PM

RMF

MEMBER
11 POSTS

Hi,

Thank you for the help. I'm finally taking the car in tomorrow to get it looked at. It must be a part in the engine as you suggested. At times, the noise is minimal while at other times the noise is loud. One thing that persists is the rough idle at startup that accompanys the noise. My friend was in the car the other day and he noticed the vibrations at startup instantly. I will have the shop check the items you mentioned. The shop also thought it could be a broken bearing because the noise does resemble a bit of a knock. I'm really worried at this point.

Any other advice?

Thanks!

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Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 AT 12:42 PM

OVERBOOST14

MEMBER
1 POST

Hello I also have a 2004 Acura TL and I have the same problems. I have been dealing with these problems with Acura for a while. Although it has not been solved yet I have some information to share. As far of the clicking noise when the engine is cold. Acura replaces my powersteering pump, tensioner, pully and belt, but it wasn't the problem. They are still trying to solve it. Also about the rough Idle especially on startup. They hav not figured it out yet. It is definitely a problem that Acura has not addressed yet. But I did notice something that they haven't. My crankshaft Harmonic balancer wabbles really bad. I mentioned it to acura and they said most of them do that. Now being a Mechanic, I told them if your harmonic balencer is not balanced or wabbles it will cause the entire engine to shake. So they said that is a high possiblity. So when I take it back to the dealer they are going to look in to this. I honestly believe this engine has some balancing issues. They have checked everything on my can and they can't find the problem as yet.

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Monday, January 17th, 2011 AT 5:38 PM

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